Service case

ABSTRACT

A temperature controlled service case for storage and display of chilled or frozen products, including at least one compartment for product storage, at least one access opening providing entrance to the compartment, at least one shelf within the compartment for holding product, and refrigeration operatively associated with the compartment for maintaining a selected temperature therein. The refrigeration includes at least one cooling coil above the shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough, and cooling within the shelf with a cooling medium flowing therethrough. Coolant supply is also provided for supplying cooling medium to the cooling coil and shelf.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/314,196, filed Aug. 22, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a temperature controlled casefor storage and display of chilled and/or frozen products, especially ina store environment.

[0003] A typical cooling coil in a refrigerated case is constructed ofmetal, such as copper or aluminum. Since this material is metal, it isquite noticeable when mounted in a refrigerated case. Case manufacturerstry to conceal this coil by placing an attractive cover over the coil orplacing the coil in a hidden location, as under the product shelf.However, although these methods hide the coil, they do not make the caseparticularly attractive and may affect refrigeration efficiency.

[0004] Refrigeration case shelving is generally made from painted metalor stainless steel. This type of shelving may be used to cover a forcedair evaporator mounted beneath the shelf, or there may be a gravity feedcoil mounted above the shelving. However, the main purpose of theshelving is to hold and display the product within the refrigeratedcase. Therefore, in both of the foregoing applications, the actualcooling of the product is achieved from the gravity feed coil mountedabove the shelf or from the forced air coil mounted below the shelf,which is not entirely satisfactory.

[0005] Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide an improved, temperature controlled case for storage and displayof cooled and/or frozen products.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a caseas aforesaid which is efficient and at the same time estheticallypleasing.

[0007] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide acase as aforesaid which may be readily and effectively used in acommercial store environment.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acoolant service case with coolant means above and below product storage.

[0009] It is a still further object of the present invention to providea coolant service case as aforesaid with coolant means above the productand coolant means beneath the product, including coolant gravity coilsand gravity louvers above the product and refrigerated pans beneath theproduct.

[0010] Further objects and advantages of the present invention willappear hereinbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objectsand advantages are readily obtained.

[0012] The present invention provides a temperature controlled case forstorage and display of chilled and/or frozen products. The coolantservice case of the present invention includes coolant means above theproduct and coolant means beneath the product. The coolant means abovethe product desirably includes coolant gravity coils and gravity louverswith drains and preferably lighting included therein. The coolant meansbeneath the product desirably includes refrigerated pans for holdingproduct, which pans are desirably insulated on their underside.

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention willappear hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] The present invention will be more readily understandable from aconsideration of the following illustrative drawing, wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the coolant service case ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of the secondary coolant servicegravity case (1). The secondary coolant gravity coil (3) is situatednear the top of the refrigerated space (2). Mounted below the coil is agravity louver assembly (4) which is designed to both direct air flowthrough the refrigerated space and catch water falling from the coilabove from condensation or melting during defrost cycles. A drain pandirects the flow of water from the louvers into piping connected to themain case drain. The louver assembly may also contain an integratedlighting system to better illuminate the product.

[0017] Secondary coolant is also circulated through channels insiderefrigerated pans (5) which provide additional cooling. The pans may beinsulated on their underside to prevent heat transfer to the unusedspace below. Above the pans, the products (6) are placed in containersmade of a metallic or otherwise heat-conductive material. The secondarycoolant flows to and from the refrigerated pans inside of flexible hoses(7) which may be equipped with valved quick-disconnect fittings tofacilitate removal of the pan for cleaning or other maintenance.

[0018] Supply (8) and return (9) headers are placed preferably in theback of the case for connection to the refrigerated coils and pans.Chilled secondary coolant flows into the supply header through thesecondary coolant supply line (10) and coolant flows out of the returnheader through a secondary coolant return line (11), both of which mayeither be connected to a packaged chiller (12) or a centralized chillerfor multiple cases or the entire facility.

[0019] The packaged chiller consists of a pump to provide flow ofcoolant and a heat exchanger to provide heat flow from the secondarycoolant to a primary coolant, preferably a volatile refrigerant.Additional equipment may also be included to facilitate temperaturecontrols, safety devices, and to provide defrost of the coils and pans.

[0020] The chiller is preferably contained within a pedestal base (13)to be hidden from view of the customer. In some situations where adirect expansion system already exists within a store, a refrigerantliquid line (14) and suction line (15) can provide flow of a primaryrefrigerant to the packaged chiller, possibly through a refrigerationpit (16) already existing in the floor.

[0021] In a conventional manner, the coolant service case of the presentinvention includes an openable door 17 for access to stored products.

[0022] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merelyillustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and whichare susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts anddetails of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass allsuch modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined bythe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for storage and display of chilled orfrozen products, comprising: a case defining a space for storing theproducts; a first cooling system having a first coolant configured tocool a second coolant in a second cooling system; a gravity coil adaptedto receive the second coolant for cooling the products; a pan adapted toreceive the second coolant for cooling the products; and furthercomprising a first header and a second header adapted to route thesecond coolant.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first coolingsystem is a primary refrigeration system and the first coolant is avolatile refrigerant.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the secondcooling system is a secondary cooling system and the coolant is asecondary coolant.
 4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a chilleradapted to transfer heat from the secondary coolant to the volatilerefrigerant.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the chiller furthercomprises a pump and a heat exchanger.
 6. The system of claim 5, whereinthe chiller is located in a base.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein thebase is a pedestal of the case.
 8. The system of claim 4 wherein thefirst cooling system is at least partially routed through a floor to thechiller.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first header is a supplyheader and the second header is return header.
 10. The system of claim 9wherein the supply header is adapted to provide a coolant supply flow tothe gravity coil and the pan.
 11. The system of claim 9 wherein thereturn header is adapted to provide a coolant return flow from thegravity coil and the pan.
 12. The system of claim 9 wherein the supplyheader and the return header are located in a back portion of the case.13. The system of claim 1 wherein the gravity coil is a secondarycoolant gravity coil.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the gravitycoil is located near a top portion of the space.
 15. The system of claim14 further comprising a louver positioned beneath the gravity coil. 16.The system of claim 15 wherein the louver is configured to direct airflow through the space.
 17. The system of claim 15 wherein the louver isconfigured to catch water from the gravity coil during a defrost cycle.18. The system of claim 15 wherein the louver includes a lightingsystem.
 19. The system of claim 1 wherein the pan is a refrigerated pan.20. The system of claim 19 wherein the pan is located beneath theproducts.
 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the products are providedin one or more containers made of a heat conductive material.
 22. Thesystem of claim 20 wherein the pan is configured to receive a flow ofthe second coolant therethrough.
 23. The system of claim 20 wherein thepan is at least partially insulated.
 24. The system of claim 19 whereinthe pan further comprises at least one flexible hose for routing thesecond coolant to and from the pan.
 25. The system of claim 24 whereinthe flexible hose further comprises one or more valved quick-disconnectfittings.
 26. The system of claim 1 further comprising a door for accessto the products in the space.
 27. A method of chilling or freezingproducts adapted for storage and display in a space within a temperaturecontrolled case, comprising: providing a gravity coil in the space andconfigured above the products; providing a pan in the space andconfigured below the products; coupling the gravity coil and the pan toa secondary coolant system; providing a chiller communicating with thesecondary coolant system and a primary coolant system, adapted toprovide a heat flow from the secondary coolant system to the primarycoolant system; and wherein the secondary coolant system furthercomprises a first header and a second header adapted to route asecondary coolant in the secondary coolant system.
 28. The method ofclaim 27 wherein the chiller further comprises a pump and a heatexchanger.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the chiller is located ina base of the temperature controlled case.
 30. The method of claim 28further comprising coupling the primary coolant system to the chiller.31. The method of claim 30 wherein the primary coolant system is anexisting direct expansion system in a store.
 32. The method of claim 31wherein the primary coolant system is a primary refrigeration system.33. The method of claim 27 wherein the gravity coil is a secondarycoolant gravity coil.
 34. The method of claim 33 further comprisingpositioning a louver beneath the gravity coil.
 35. The method of claim27 wherein the pan has a channel configured to communicate with thesecondary coolant system.
 36. The method of claim 35 further comprisingat least one flexible hose interconnecting the pan and the secondarycoolant system.
 37. The method of claim 36 further comprising at leastone quick-disconnect fitting coupled to the flexible hose and adapted topermit removal of the pan.
 38. The method of claim 27 wherein thesecondary coolant system further comprises a first header and a secondheader positioned in a back portion of the temperature controlled case.39. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing equipmentadapted for temperature control.
 40. A system for cooling products,comprising: means for providing a case defining a space for storage ofthe products; means for providing a gravity coil above the products;means for providing a pan below the products; means for cooling acoolant adapted to flow to the gravity coil and the pan; and furthercomprising a first header and a second header adapted to route thecoolant.
 41. The system of claim 40 further comprising means fordirecting air flow within the space.
 42. The system of claim 40 furthercomprising means for removing the pan.
 43. The system of claim 40further comprising means for routing a flow of the coolant to thegravity coil and the pan.
 44. The system of claim 40 further comprisingmeans for providing a refrigerant in a heat exchange relation with thecoolant.
 45. The system of claim 40 further comprising means for routinga flow of the coolant from the gravity coil and the pan.
 46. The systemof claim 40 further comprising means for illuminating the product.
 47. Aservice case for storing and displaying chilled or frozen products,comprising: a secondary coolant system for circulating a coolant throughat least one of a gravity coil and a pan, a heat exchanger adapted totransfer a quantity of heat from the coolant to a primary refrigerationsystem, an air flow device configured to direct air flow within theservice case, and a first header and a second header adapted to routethe coolant.
 48. The service case of claim 47 wherein the primaryrefrigeration system is an existing direct expansion system in a store.49. The service case of claim 47 wherein the pan further compriseschannels for a flow of the coolant therethrough.
 50. The service case ofclaim 49 further comprising at least one flexible hose and aquick-disconnect fitting adapted to permit removal of the pan.
 51. Theservice case of claim 47 wherein the products are positioned above thepan and beneath the gravity coil.
 52. The service case of claim 47further comprising at least one header for directing a flow of thecoolant to the gravity coil and the pan.
 53. The service case of claim47 wherein the air flow device is adapted to catch water from thegravity coil and to illuminate the products.